CIHT Annual Luncheon supports OnSide Youth Zones

We were delighted to attend The CIHT Annual Luncheon on Friday 14 December at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London – where over 1700 CIHT members gathered to network with other members and professionals in the construction industry.  Guests enjoyed a festive lunch, whilst listening to guest speakers and was followed by a set from stand-up comedian, Ed Byrne.

OnSide Youth Zones was invited to the CIHT Annual Luncheon as we are honoured to have been chosen by CIHT as this year’s chosen charity partner for the event.  This incredible accolade follows on from Kier Highways support of OnSide Youth Zones through The Collaborative Learning Circle (CLC) which has been formed to bring the industry together to provide consistency in excellence across safety, customer, collaboration and all aspects of delivery.  The CLC and its partners are supporting OnSide through both charitable fundraising events while also looking to address the skills gap in the UK construction industry by creating a massive 5,000 new apprenticeships over the next five years for the benefit of young people from across the OnSide network – generating a huge £500m in social value.  We already have young people benefitting from the apprenticeship scheme, who have grasped the opportunity with both hands and are thriving in their new roles.

OnSide advocate, Baroness Helen Newlove, Chair of the CLC and Warrington based community reform campaigner appointed as the Victims’ Commissioner in 2012, spoke passionately about her own personal trauma and why she feels OnSide Youth Zones are key in helping to build positive, more aspirational futures for young people through providing safe and inspiring environments to develop in a positive way.

Guest speakers throughout the luncheon also included Matthew Lugg OBE, President, CIHT 2018/2019 who spoke of the role of the Institution as the leading voice for highways and transportation.  Matthew also spoke warmly of OnSide Youth Zones and of the huge difference that is made to the lives of young people.

It was a truly wonderful event and we are delighted to announce that a staggering £12,736.30 was raised by the luncheon and will go towards building a network of 100 Youth Zones across the UK – helping to provide all young people with somewhere to go, someone to talk to and something to do.

A huge thank you to CIHT, Kier, CLC and partners for their incredible support of OnSide Youth Zones.